This weekend , the metropolis of Xi’an , capital of Northwest China ’s Shaanxi Province , was innkeeper to a record - break radio-controlled aircraft public presentation , even larger than Intel ’s 1,218 - drone functioning during the hatchway ceremonial of the 2018 Winter Olympics . And while drone maker Ehang Egret cop the first screening , its second go - round a few days by and by was n’t as smooth . And by “ was n’t as smooth , ” I stand for a duet of dawdler fell out of the damn sky .

The 13 - minute performance , allot to Chinese News Service , spanned over a kilometer and broke Intel ’s Guinness World Record for the largest bit of simultaneously airborne remote-controlled aerial vehicle ( UAVs ) by a cool 156 drones . To qualify for the disk , each droning must be of the quadcopter variety , and all must remain airborne for at least one moment ( with defective drones deducted from the net count ) .

The drones , equip for a light show , were control using Ehang Egret ’s pilotless aircraft coordination software program , Drone Formation Flight , which the companionship offers for publicity and stigmatisation needs . During the performance , the bourdon formed 16 different 3D ikon , ranging from the bit 1374 ( in honor of the 13.74 - kilometer wall of Xi’an from which the drone occupy flight ) and formulate like “ sprint Xi’an . ” Thing is , as Ehang Egret CEO Shi Zheyuan , predicted , signaling interference from the 100,000 - impregnable crowd ’s mobile equipment would make the May 1 live functioning a more unmanageable endeavor .

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He was right . While the April 29 dry run performance help Ehang Egretsecure the human beings disc , its second endeavour on May 1 dispatch a few hang-up in the cast of rogue drones and downed UAVs . In a TV from Beijing News , you’re able to see a few EHANG Egret dronesbreak formation , and plump to the earth toward the end of the performance .

The company ’s no stranger to drones , and employing them in the service of elaborate display . In February , the company launched 1,000 drones in a light showheld at the Guangzhou city center of attention . Ehang Egret is alsoworking on self-directed airy vehiclesin the configuration of a ego - drive single - rider fly taxicab .

ChinaDrones

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

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